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Chicago Bike Adventures

Chicago Bike Adventures

Custom guided bike rides through Chicago's neighborhoods.

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Author: admin

Looking Around 16 (10 Photos)

September 16, 2019September 23, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Looking Around 16 (10 Photos)
A tour bike leaning on a black plastic trash can in fornt of a roll up garage door painted with a mural of a rectangular figure with arms wide on a tripartite blue, yellow, a red background.

Ten more pictures taken while riding around Chicago this summer

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged chris silva, cicero, former factories, former firehouses, lawndale, logan square, my dog sighs, north center, north lawndale, roscoe village, street art, tri-taylor, wicker park, windows, yollocalli

CBA Rides 6 (10 Photos)

September 9, 2019October 8, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 6 (10 Photos)
Two CBA bike tour riders looking at a yellow brick Rennaissance Revival facade church.

More mid-summer CBA rides in action

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged b_line, bucktown, chris chanyang shim, churches, cls schriver, fulton market, graffiti barn, hebru Brantley, humboldt park, jake merten, jc rivera, jens jensen, little italy, logan square, michelle obama, polish downtown, pulaski park, river west, ukrainian village, wolf point

CBA Rides 5 (10 Photos)

August 5, 2019September 9, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 5 (10 Photos)
A CBA tour rider watching CobreArt putting up a ;arge mural of Quincy Jones.

10 pics of mid-summer CBA rides in action.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged 18th street bridge, armour patch, art deco, bridgeport, burnham & root, chinatown, cobre, colin van der sluijs, east garfield park, greetingstour, hebru Brantley, lacuna lofts, logan square, megzany, movable bridges, palmisano park, pilsen, river north, street art, unionstockyards, wicker park

Map Updates 4 (17 photos)

June 25, 2019September 13, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Map Updates 4 (17 photos)
Tour bike leaning on the base of an equestrian George Washington statue

Seventeen photos recently added to CBA maps

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Posted in Map Updates, PhotosTagged bridgeport, bronzeville, dearborn park, edgewater, grant park, historic schools, memorials, monuments, oak park, printchicago, public art, rogers park, roscoe village, the loop, west loop

Frank Lloyd Wright Map Update

June 17, 2019June 25, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Frank Lloyd Wright Map Update
Tour bike leaning on a brown fence in front of a three story wooden house

Ffifteen photos recently added to CBA’s Frank Lloyd Wright Map

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Posted in Architects, Architecture, Map Updates, PhotosTagged Frank Lloyd Wright, oak park

Chicago River and Water System Map

June 4, 2019November 13, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Chicago River and Water System Map
A boat on a river heading to a lock system with the harbor behind and a large dark cloudy sky overhead

70+ markers with more than 20 pictures lay out the past and present of the Chicago River

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Posted in MapsTagged chicago river, history, infrastructure

Former Synagogues Map Update (14 Photos)

May 21, 2019June 17, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Former Synagogues Map Update (14 Photos)
Yellow brick former synagogue now church with a large etched stone entrance and a tour bike in front.

These fourteen pictures have been added to markers on the Former Synagogues Map.

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Posted in Architecture, Map Updates, PhotosTagged african american churches, austin, brighton park, former synagogues, hispanic churches, homan square, lawndale, north lawndale, rogers park, roseland, west garfield park

Looking Around 13 (14 Photos)

May 14, 2019December 11, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Looking Around 13 (14 Photos)
Dolly Parton mural with new and old buildings during a bike ride tour.

Fourteen photos taken from the bike in recent weeks.

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Posted in Looking Around, PhotosTagged adaptive reuse, b_line, edgewater, fulton market, martin luther king, movable bridges, pullman, red line, rodgers park, roseland, south deering, west town

Map Updates 3 (15 Photos)

May 6, 2019May 21, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on Map Updates 3 (15 Photos)
Silhouette of a tour bike in front of red brick Romanesque St. Boniface church between trees.

15 pictures that have been added to markers on previously published maps

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Posted in Map Updates, PhotosTagged church conversions, historic schools, humboldt park, irving park, lincoln park, little italy, marshall square, memorials, monuments, noble sqaure, old town, public art, uic-medical, uptown, west town

CBA Rides 3 (11 Photos)

April 22, 2019July 30, 2019 adminLeave a Comment on CBA Rides 3 (11 Photos)
Bike tour rider taking a photo of a mural featuring a green goggle wearing boy.

Some of CBA’s most recent rides in action.

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Posted in Photos, Tours in ActionTagged bridgeport, cba rides, logan square, maxwell street, museum campus, near north, pilsen

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Older posts
A book cover for 100 Things to do in Illinois Before You Die with blue text that says We're in the Book!

Yelp

  •   My friend from out of town wanted to visit me in Chicago for my birthday. Instead of going out to a fancy dinner, we decided to go on an... read more adventure with Chicago Bike Adventures. It was a great! I live in Chicago and love to bike. I wasn't sure if I would see anything new or unexpected on my trip because I live here, but I certainly did! Steve is extremely knowledgeable and knows about all the hidden gems! He customized the tour for just me and my friend and one other woman that joined us that day. It was great to be able to see all of the things I wanted to see (like street art, history, and planning stuff) and not get into the things I didn't care as much about. I'm sure there are many more customized adventures that he is prepared to give!

    We saw a lot of really fantastic street art. We also stopped by a brewery in Pilsen, Lo Rez. I highly recommend it! Steve was extremely knowledgeable about all of the things and places we visited. He was also very approachable and fun to ride with. He even lent someone a pair of socks so she could be a little warmer on the ride. Great guy.

    It was great how Steve knew which route to take. He clearly did a lot of research in finding the best way to get around. I ride my bike in Chicago so I know how difficult it can be getting around if you don't find a bike lane, or a less busy street. The ride that day was very pleasant and stress free.

    Oh! I should mention that it was 33 degrees when we did this trip and I still loved it! We bundled up and kept warm by moving.

    I would definitely recommend this for a visitor or a local!

    thumb Emily E.
    1/25/2019

  •   A fantastic bike tour, personally tailored to your interests. We did a 3-hour ride with a group of four who signed up together, but you can also sign up alone... read more and be paired with others.

    Steve is a friendly and knowledgeable guide. We had a rider who hadn't ridden a bicycle in years and Steve's loaner bike and helmet worked out great.

    Highly recommend the "bike the boulevards" route and on through Pilsen and Chinatown. Great history and architecture.

    Thanks, Steve!

    thumb Alex H.
    7/12/2019

  •   If you want to get to know Chicago more personally, try this out. This was one of my favorite experiences during my three day stay at Chicago. I did all... read more the tourist must-dos but it was nice to bike around neighborhoods and to feel what exactly the locals see everyday. Steve was great with everything from picking out/adjusting a bike for my size to explaining fun little details of Chicago. If you love being active and want a new experience while traveling, this would be great for you.

    thumb Somang L.
    8/28/2019

  •   I spent an amazing 4.5 hours riding 15 miles on a totally customized bike tour with Steve. He knows so much about the art, architecture, and history along the way... read more (he is a retired teacher so it's not surprising.) After I got home he even provided me with a detailed map of the ride that included photos of me along the way with informational links about the scene shown. A+ experience.

    thumb Colin K.
    8/17/2021

  •   Steve is great and love the tours. My wife took me on one a couple years ago and we went again while some friends were in town last week. Great... read more way to see the city and each tour is customized based on what you are interested in learning about and how far you want to go. Highly recommend!

    thumb Jason K.
    8/16/2022

  •   I found Steve of Chicago Bike Adventures on Trip Advisor. They also have a website: https://chicagobikeadventures.com/about/

    I wanted to enhance a four day holiday in Chicago... read more with something more interesting than the usual Red Bus or Architectural River Tours which, while worth doing, are things I had done before. Steve's tours involve riding cycles around the northern neighborhoods of the city for 5 hours while he explained the sights. Before the tour, you are sent a questionnaire which asks about your size, bike riding expertise, and interests: History, architecture, sports, churches, etc.

    I chose a cold day in December and was the only person on the tour which meant I got Steve all to myself. When I arrived a the beginning of the tour, Steve was waiting with a helmet and a well tuned bicycle adjusted for my size and ready to go.

    We started with a tour of the immediate neighborhood. As we rode He explained the local history and pointed out landmarks. The pace was just right, we kept moving to stay warm, it was about 30 degrees F, with stops at various points of interest. Steve teaches in the Chicago schools when he is not giving bicycle tours and we got along famously. As the tour went open we explored the University of Illinois, street art, the trendy new neighborhoods that are attracting tech workers and historical sights going back 100 years.

    One of the best things about a small group tour is the ability to get to know a local, ask questions and get a sense of what it is like to live in the city you are visiting. This is much better than hearing a recording of the points of interest as you drive by on a bus filled with other tourists.

    Later Steve took me to a local taco place for lunch. The food was very tasty and we continued our discussion of Chicago, one of the most interesting cities I know.

    After 5 hours and 12 miles of bike riding I was tired and very happy to have taken the tour. I suspect you will be just as satisfied if you take one of Steve's bike tours. Although the route is chosen carefully to minimize congested streets, you will be riding in a big city for hours so you should be comfortable riding a bicycle in traffic.
    John Kelly

    thumb John K.
    12/28/2018

  •   Steve created a wonderful memory for us while on a short trip to Chicago. Our group of girls had a mix of biking experience and he went out of his... read more way to ensure we all felt comfortable. This tour was a comfortable pace filled with local art and history of each space. The ability to ride through the city made us feel like a local even though my riding skills may have indicated otherwise. Thank you Steve for making us feel like a priority to you and your city. Would love to come and do this again.

    thumb Amy H.
    4/29/2021

  •   This was by far the best day of my vacation in Chicago. A bike tour is the best way to see a city, and Steve's street art bike tour was... read more such a great experience. We saw great popular murals and tons of never seen or known about before. Steve knew the answers to all my questions about the artists, the collaborations, the backgrounds of the pieces and more. On top of that I felt very safe the whole and trusted his urban biking skills. It was truly a memorable experience and I can't wait to take my friends with me next time I go!

    thumb Naima B.
    10/29/2019

  •   Absolutely loved this bike tour with Steve. Our tour was customized to what we wanted to see. Steve included stops in between our requested stops so we could learn and... read more enjoy more about this beautiful city. Steve was patient with us and accommodating to our level of bike riding, making sure we were following behind and letting us know our route ahead. Steve took pictures and put them together on a map showing where we had been. He also included photos from the movie sites we stopped at so we could compare our pictures with the movie. It was awesome! I will recommend Steve to friends and book again!!!

    thumb Stacie A.
    9/25/2023

Airbnb

  •   Steve’s tours are informative, approachable, and fun! Even on a hot day, it was a great ride and conversation. Steve tailored our ride based on my interests and I learned... read more so many new things about the art, architecture, and urban development of Chicago. Steve is a teacher and clearly has a love for storytelling and for the city. Whether you are a visitor or a local, this is a great way to get to know Chicago a little better.

    thumb Maggie
    June 21, 2022

  •   It was Fun and at the same time a workout experience.

    thumb Cris Bien
    August 29, 2018

  •   You can tell Steve puts a lot of thought and research into his rides, and I really appreciated that! I would not have felt comfortable biking around Chicago like we... read more did on my own, nor would I have known all the wealth of information Steve had to share.

    thumb Joanna
    June 23, 2019

  •   We had a great day with Steve - very interesting information about Chicago immigration history and street art on our tour, a fun but relaxing ride.

    thumb Susan
    September 11, 2018

  •   Great bike tour, customized it to my interests of art, history, street art, and architecture.

    thumb Ana
    November 22, 2021

  •   Steve was a excellent host! It was a beautiful late October fall, the sun was out for most of the ride but Chicago neighborhoods that we saw were on full... read more display! I felt very safe riding bikes around town with my group. It didn’t seem rushed at all. My bike tour was uniquely made for my boyfriend and I. We saw greenery, notorious Chicago and wonderful art murals. During the ride we got hungry and Steve took us to a great local place. On the trip my boyfriend mentioned we have to go back on this tour to see more and I couldn’t agree more. When I was biking through the neighborhoods I felt like it was a true local experience! I would recommend this trip experience for everyone visiting.

    thumb Lauren
    October 24, 2020

  •   Very knowledgeable and passionate. Steve will send you a survey before your trip and you fill out certain things that you are interested in. I feel like Steve does a... read more great job of customizing the trip to what you want to learn about.

    thumb Kevin
    March 26, 2021

  •   We had an excellent experience on Steve's Chicago Bike Adventure. We all enjoyed the day immensely, felt comfortable and safe, and learned a lot about the neighborhoods, street art, and... read more city. It was such a fun way to experience the area. Steve also provides a bike map of your tour with photos from the day, which is a fun way to remember the experience and learn more about the sites visited. The tour was customized to our interests, and Steve was open to our questions. I would highly recommend the tour, and will probably participate again when I visit Chicago.

    thumb Lisa
    August 15, 2019

  •   A great experience for people who like to be outdoors, get great photos of the city and learn a little something while in town. Chicago is a nice, flat city... read more to ride a bike, so it wasn’t too strenuous at all. Steve is insanely knowledgeable about a little bit of everything. He won’t just take you to a cool mural off the beaten path, he’ll tell you who painted it and where they are from and what city initiative funded it! We covered plenty of ethnic history and sites of architectural interest as well, as the ride was tailored to the guests interests. The route planning was thoughtful - Steve seems to be a meticulous planner who keeps track of time and mileage to continuously improve his offerings. All of this allows you to just pedal and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend this tour!

    thumb Katrina
    August 31, 2020

  •   What a great few hours biking around spots in Chicago I would never have seen otherwise! Steve was the perfect guide. He was super responsive and easy to... read more communicate with and tailored the experience based on what I really wanted to see and to learn about Chicago beyond the more touristy spots. It was just the right amount of biking and the route felt super safe and accessible on that front. Highly recommend.

    thumb Michele
    October 16, 2024

TripAdvisor

  • star rating  I highly recommend this bike tour. Steve does a great job of gathering your info before hand and tailoring the ride to you. I was lucky to be the... read more only rider that day so the experience was very personal. Steve does a great job leading you on the bike and I felt very safe

    tripadvisor logo
    dazelr
    September 1, 2019

  • star rating  I had an awesome time cruising around town with Steve. We went to places in Chicago I probably wouldn't otherwise go and learned a ton about the city. I felt... read more safe the whole time and still felt like I was in the middle of everything....More

    tripadvisor logo
    avatar thumb Saltlakemike
    July 28, 2018

  • star rating  A must if you come to Chicago. You’ll see a different side to the city and Steve will customize the experience for you. See different neighborhoods, learn about the history,... read more take great photos and enjoy

    tripadvisor logo
    ana_rg123
    March 1, 2020

  • star rating  Steve is a warm, fun-loving and very knowlegeable tour guide. He took us through several very cool neighborhoods, showed us awesome street art and shared countless interesting details. He is... read more a confident bike tour guide and knows the streets of Chicago well. He even managed to arrange good weather for the tour! :)

    I highly recommend Steve and Chicago Bike Adventures...you'll have a blast!

    tripadvisor logo
    theworldiswide
    September 30, 2019

  • star rating  As local residents, we wanted a fun adventure over July 4th (and during the pandemic). Steve created a perfect tour!

    We went west for ethnic street art, and... read more south for architectural, social and Black history (Bronzeville, Jane Adams, Ida B. Wells) and musicians (Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, Thomas Dorsey, Muddy Waters). Steve is easy and spontaneous as he creates context throughout, tying many pieces together.

    We came away with a more intimate connection to our great hometown, Chicago! Hope to do another tour with Steve soon!

    tripadvisor logo
    ChicagoUrban
    July 5, 2020

  • star rating  Steve was a great tour guide as we biked through Chicago. His pre-ride survey allowed him to tailor... read more

    tripadvisor logo
    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

  • star rating  I spent an amazing 4.5 hours touring Chicago neighborhoods with Steve. He knows an amazing amount about the art, architecture, and history along the ride. He totally customizes the tour... read more based on your interests. After the trip he provided me with a detailed map of the route with photos of some of the stops and with informational links. A+ experience. …

    tripadvisor logo
    Colin Knight
    August 17, 2021

  • star rating  I spent an amazing 4.5 hours touring Chicago neighborhoods with Steve. He knows an amazing amount about the art, architecture, and history along the ride. He totally customizes the tour... read more based on your interests. After the trip he provided me with a detailed map of the route with photos of some of the stops and with informational links. A+ experience.

    tripadvisor logo
    ColinKnightMD
    August 17, 2021

  • star rating  Steve was awesome! Catered the ride to my pace and showed me tons and tons of street art (just like I wanted). He was easy to talk to, very knowledgeable... read more and very down to earth.

    tripadvisor logo
    316drewr
    August 24, 2019

  • star rating  Steve was a great tour guide as we biked through Chicago. His pre-ride survey allowed him to tailor the ride to some of our interests. We were super confident navigating... read more the streets with Steve in the front. The street art was amazing as was the ride along the old L tracks and along the lake. Highly recommend. We will be back.

    tripadvisor logo
    amyek-6
    March 21, 2021

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